Three-terminal interdigitated back contact photoelectric device
AssigneeAlliance for Energy Innovation, LLC
InventorsEmily Lowell Warren, Nathan Taylor Nesbitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Three-terminal (3T) photoelectrodes with cathodic protection capability are described. The 3T photoelectrodes utilize the third (i.e., the “extra”) electrode to bypass the diode in a semiconductor circuit and pass current with significant reductions in corrosions or reverse bias. The 3T photoelectrodes may be operated in diode mode when exposed to illumination and switched to an ohmic mode when light is significantly reduced (i.e., in the dark) to enable cathodic protection. The 3T photocathodes may maintain photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity in methyl viologen electrolyte under light/dark cycling. The 3T photoelectrodes may enable PEC in conditions where variable illumination is a regular occurrence.
Claims17
A photoelectric device comprising:
- a wafer having a first side and a second side;
- a first n-type contact located on the first side;
- a second n-type contact located on the second side;
- and
- a p-type contact located on the second side;
- wherein:
- the p-type contact and the second n-type contact are arranged in parallel,
- the first n-type contact and the p-type contact are connected via a diode,
- the diode is configured to allow a current to flow when the photoelectric device is exposed to a light source, and
- the diode is configured to not allow a current to flow when the photoelectric device is not exposed to a light source.
A method of operating a photoelectric device, the method comprising:
- operating the photoelectric device in a diode mode;
- and
- operating the photoelectric device in an ohmic mode;
- wherein:
- in the ohmic mode a current does not cross a diode, and
- the photoelectric device comprises:
- a wafer having a first side and a second side;
- a first n-type contact located on the first side;
- a second n-type contact located on the second side;
- and
- a p-type contact located on the second side;
- the p-type contact and the second n-type contact are arranged in parallel,
- the first n-type contact and the p-type contact are connected via a diode,
- the diode is configured to allow a current to flow when the photoelectric device is exposed to a light source, and
- the diode is configured to not allow a current to flow when the photoelectric device is not exposed to a light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.